Wordle.net is an online tool which is used to create Word Clouds. Here is an example of a word cloud:

This Word Cloud was made using the ‘monkey keeps stealing my peanuts‘ joke. Note that the more a word appears in the text, the bigger it will be in the cloud. In the joke, for example, the word ‘monkey‘ appears five times, ‘player‘ appears three times, and ‘tell‘ appears once. Function words such as articles and prepositions are omitted.

Here is how to make a word cloud:

1. Copy a text of your choice
2. Go to Wordle.net
3. Click on ‘Create‘
4. Look for the box which says: ‘Paste in a bunch of text‘
5. Paste your text into this box
6. Click ‘Go‘
7. Use the options above the Word Cloud to make changes to colour, font and layout
8. Make a print of your Word Cloud

The above word cloud could be used to reactivate the monkey joke. Show it to students, ask them to identify the text (When did they see it? What was it about? Etc). Finally, give out copies of the Word Cloud and ask students to use it to reconstruct the joke.

Some other ideas:

• Use the lyrics of a song to make a Word Cloud and give copies to your students. They can then use it to write out the lyrics in full after listening.
• Make word clouds of news stories and ask students to predict what they are about before seeing the full text.